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Hunt For Double Murder Suspect Spreads South

The hunt for double murder suspect James Allen has entered its seventh day after new CCTV images showed the fugitive appeared to be moving south.

Earlier in the week there were sightings of Allen across Cleveland and North Yorkshire, but latest reports suggest he could be in the Leeds area.

Police have released new pictures of the 35-year-old in Scarborough and Leeds on Friday.

Allen is being hunted by police following the separate murders of Julie Davison, 50, in Whitby, North Yorkshire, and 81-year-old Colin Dunford in Middlesbrough.

Mr Dunford was found dead on Monday and Ms Davison on Wednesday.

Acting Detective Chief Superintendent Gordon Lang said the latest images suggest Allen, who was previously bald, is growing his hair to change his appearance.

The images show Allen in a number of locations in Scarborough, including a sports shop, on Wednesday and Thursday.

Mr Lang confirmed Allen stayed in a bed and breakfast, thought to be the Allerton Croft Hotel, in the seaside town on Wednesday night.

He said the guest house had been treated as a crime scene.

Other images show Allen in the Harehills area of Leeds on Friday. He was also seen in the city on Thursday.

Mr Lang said it was possible that someone was sheltering the fugitive and urged them to contact police.

"This is not a time for loyalty. There can be no loyalty at a time like this," he said.

"Now is the time to be public-spirited."

Mr Lang also renewed his appeal for Allen to hand himself in.

"Give yourself up. Give yourself up now. You need to be in police custody, you know what you've done," he said.

He added: "I think purely and simply by the tragic events that have unfolded, this is a
man who cannot be at large, who needs to be arrested and that needs to happen as
quickly as possible."

There have also been earlier reported sightings of Allen in Middlesbrough and Whitby since the two murders this week.

Allen has convictions for violence and has served time in prison.

Meanwhile, a previous victim of Allen said he was lucky to be alive as he described his shock at seeing the wanted man's face on TV.

Brian Butt, 67, suffered four stab wounds when he was attacked outside his home in Winchester, Hampshire, in February 2003 by Allen and an accomplice.

A drug user at the time, Allen was jailed for eight years for the attack, the Southern Daily Echo reported.

Speaking at his home, Mr Butt said: "I saw it on television and I thought I knew the name from somewhere, then I saw his picture and it was definitely him.

"When I saw it and what he is supposed to have done, I felt sorry for the families of those up there.

"I don't want to talk about what happened. They came here and I was stabbed four times but I was the lucky one.

"They did take things but I don't want to talk about what happened."

Earlier Mr Lang confirmed Allen, originally from Blackpool, was on court bail, although he did not reveal what the alleged offence was.

He also said Allen had had contact with the probation services and was being investigated for other alleged crimes.

Mr Lang warned residents to keep their homes secure and be careful when answering their doors.

He said Allen knew Mr Dunford when he lived next door to him in Leven Street about a year ago but it is not thought Allen knew Ms Davison.

He said robbery was a possible motive behind the attacks, but stressed he was keeping an open mind.

Officers are keen to trace a black bicycle with suspension which Allen had with him.

Mr Lang said it was feasible he had cycled between Middlesbrough and Whitby - a distance of more than 30 miles (48km).

But he said officers were also looking at other modes of transport he may have used.